Tobacco use in Finland up in smoke

The number of tobacco users in Finland has fallen by 6 per cent since 2012.

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Finland has one of the lowest numbers of tobacco users in the EU, according to a Eurobarometer on Europeans’ attitudes towards tobacco released by the EU Commission.

With some 19 per cent of the population partaking in tobacco use, the number of Finns is second only to Sweden of the 28 member states. This represents a drop of six per cent since 2012 and is below the EU average of 26 per cent.

The EU countries with the highest rates of smoking were Greece (38 per cent) and Bulgaria (35 per cent).

The survey also found that electronic cigarette use has increased in the EU. Some 13 per cent of Finns have at least tried electronic cigarettes, with 41 per cent of these utilising this as a method for quitting tobacco.